Macclesfield's case of the mysterious Valentine UFOs has been solved – and in the truth lies a poignant tale of love and loss.

When the Express reported how Margaret Frain, of Ullswater Mansions, saw a series of lights hovering over town on February 14, Theresa Bowers realised she and her family were the unwitting culprits.

Mum-of-seven Theresa, of Wilton Crescent, had arranged for her whole family to release 14 Chinese lanterns into the air in celebration of what would have been son Jack William Mellor’s 18th birthday, who died when he was five years old.

Theresa said: "We thought it would be a fitting tribute to him for the whole family to release these lanterns on what would have been his 18th birthday.

"When we were letting them off I did joke at the time someone might report them as UFOs.

"We were in Tesco and I saw the words ‘UFO’ and ‘spotted’ in the Macc Express, I thought ‘oh no, it can’t be us?’ Then of course I saw the date and realised it had to be.

"We felt terrible about it but we did laugh about it too."

Jack, who suffered from spastic quadriplegia, went to Park Royal Special school and died peacefully in hospital where he was preparing for a gastronomy to help him eat.

Theresa, who drives children with special needs, added: "With it being his 18th we wanted to do something special. It was a very beautiful occasion, we all wrote messages on the lanterns wishing him a happy birthday.

"It was very peaceful and calm and we stood and watched them float into the sky until they disappeared."

Theresa, whose son Adam sadly died of cot death 24 years ago, added: "We are going to be letting some more off on April 20, which is the anniversary of Adam’s death so if you look out and see them it’s us up to our old tricks again!"